The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 37: It Turns Out Everyone Has Hidden Guards (1)

Consort Feng was momentarily stunned. This girl actually had hidden guards? How had she not heard of it before? And despite being bullied, she had never seen her use them.

"Present!" As Li Yun spoke, a figure floated down silently into the courtyard. Dressed in black, the figure was completely shrouded, making it impossible to discern his features. But from his build and voice, it was clear he was a young man.

So she really did have a hidden guard? But just one? Thinking back to how silently he had appeared, she realized that even with her keen eyesight and hearing, she hadn't noticed where he came from. It was evident that this person was far more skilled than Consort Feng's hidden guards, who had just appeared before her. Quality over quantity—she wasn't so shallow as to think that one couldn't match dozens.

Li Yun nodded and commanded, "Tell them what your duty is."

"I obey all commands from Miss," the hidden guard stated emotionlessly.

"Good!" Li Yun felt satisfied. It was just as she wanted. With a lazy glance at the stunned guards, she turned to Consort Feng and said, "Throw this woman, who abuses her authority, into the lake to feed the fish."

The hidden guard paused, seemingly taken aback. He hadn't expected that his appearance wasn't meant to drive off the Prince's guards but rather to throw a woman into the lake? He stood still, a strange look in his eyes. Wasn't it a waste of his skills to use him for such a task?

"Didn't you just say your duty was to obey me? What's the hesitation?" Li Yun raised an eyebrow.

Immediately, the hidden guard turned around, a flick of his sleeve sending Consort Feng flying out of Qianyue Pavilion. She was headed straight for the only lake in the Prince's residence.

"Yun Qianyue, how dare you! You—ah!" Her terrified cries faded into the distance, followed by a loud splash. Clearly, Consort Feng had fallen into the lake.

"Not bad! I'll give you credit for that!" Li Yun smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. This was the relief she needed.

The hidden guard remained silent, standing motionless, his expression unreadable, only his strange gaze visible.

"Do you still want to make a move?" Li Yun was unconcerned about the hidden guard's attitude. People with skills often had peculiar tempers. Just like the formidable Rong Jing she had met yesterday, along with the guard beside him. She turned her fierce gaze back to the stunned Prince's guards. "The duty of the Prince's guards is to protect the residence, yet you're involved in a family quarrel among women. This is a disgrace to the identity of the Prince's guards! I'll be reporting this to Grandfather. Since you're not fulfilling your duties, you might as well all be dismissed to save us the trouble!"

The guards were suddenly horrified, glancing nervously at Li Yun's hidden guard, who remained unfazed. Immediately, they turned and knelt before Li Yun, saying in unison, "Miss Qianyue, forgive us! We are merely following the Prince's orders, and all our actions are under Consort Feng's command!"

Li Yun followed their gaze to her hidden guard, sensing that they seemed to view him as their leader. She didn't care to probe into it further; she would find out in due time. With a disinterested glance back at the guards, she said, "Whether you're pardoned or not is up to Grandfather. This matter is beyond my authority."

The guards hung their heads, falling silent.

"Do you have a name?" Li Yun asked her hidden guard.

"Mo Li," the young man replied, his earlier strange expression fading, his eyes now void of emotion.

"Alright, Mo Li. I'll remember that." Li Yun nodded, then waved at the still-dazed Cailian. "Let's go. Grandfather has probably woken up by now. We should pay our respects!"

As she spoke, she walked toward the Old Prince's courtyard, planning to recount yesterday's events and the morning's incident, as well as thank him for providing such a capable hidden guard. If she had clashed with Consort Feng today, she might have truly suffered for it.

"Miss... what about them?" Cailian asked, glancing at the kneeling guards.

"Don't worry about them. They might not even be guards here for much longer," Li Yun replied without looking back.

Cailian nodded, impressed by her mistress's imposing demeanor. However, glancing at the moaning maids and the terrified people left in Consort Feng's courtyard made her anxious. She quietly approached Li Yun and whispered, "Miss, if the Prince doesn't appear, it's likely he's not in the residence. If he finds out you threw Consort Feng into the lake, he might get angry with you."

"How angry can you imagine the Prince gets?" Li Yun asked, tilting her head toward Cailian.

"I'm not sure. I've only been with you for half a year and have barely seen the Prince a few times. I know he doesn't like you, as he always has a sour expression when he sees you. But I've seen him smile when he's with the eldest miss, praising her endlessly! Other ladies also seem to gain his favor, except for you..." Cailian trailed off, glancing anxiously at Li Yun's expression. Seeing her impassive face made her heart ache. "Miss, the Prince may just not know your good qualities. Once he learns about them, he'll surely like you..."

"Hmm, I think you're right. He just doesn't know my good side." Li Yun nodded but remained unconvinced. If he didn't like her, so be it! She wasn't a currency that everyone had to adore. Even as currency, it didn't guarantee universal love. She recalled those chattering women from yesterday, and it was clear that her royal father was a womanizer, having fathered a multitude of daughters. Surely there were plenty of women around.

The two quickly exited Qianyue Pavilion, heading toward the Old Prince's courtyard along the same path they had taken the day before.

"If you want Consort Feng to survive, you better hurry and save her!" Mo Li called coldly to the people in Consort Feng's courtyard.

The others seemed to snap out of their stupor, scrambling to escape, some running, some crawling, and those who couldn't run or crawl were rolling away. In no time, a flurry of people had rushed out of Qianyue Pavilion. Consort Feng was their mistress; if she lost her life, they knew they would face dire consequences for failing in their duties. Consort Feng was the Old Prince's sister-in-law, and the Crown Prince's side consort; they wouldn't dare let anything happen to her.